Loose leaf binder



Sept. 6, 193's, R0, UNGER 3,129,109

LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Aug. '27, 1936 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Paul O. U B7" Sept. 6, 1938; P. o. UNGER LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Aug. 27, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 6, 1938 PATENT OFFICE LOOSE LEAF BINDER Paul 0. Unger, Elmhurst, Ill., assignor to Wilson- Jones Company, Chicago, Ill.,' a corporation of Massachusetts Application August 27, 1936, Serial No. 98,121

4 Claims.

This invention relates to loose leaf binders and more particularly to prong binders.

It is an object of this invention to provide a loose leaf binder which will permit the sheets to lie perfectly fiat when the binder is opened.

It is a further object of this invention to provide simple and efficient means for holding the binder in closed position that may be readily released to permit opening of the binder. Other objects of this invention will become apparent upon reading the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a perspective view of the loose leaf binder in open position with the sheets removed.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of the binder in closed position.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line IIIIII of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the binder with portions broken away to facilitate illustration of the structure.

In the drawings, the reference numeral 2 indicates a back member to each longitudinal edge of which a. strip 3 is hingedly connected. Each strip 3 has a cover member 4 hinged along its outer longitudinal edge. The hinges are so arranged that the back member, the strips 3 and the cover members all lie in the same plane when the binder is open.

A prong carrying plate 5 is rigidly secured to each strip 3. The plate has a plurality of curved sheet retaining prongs 6 secured thereto in any suitable manner. The sheet retaining prongs are spaced off center so that no rights or lefts are required in assembling the binder and the prongs on opposite sides of the binder will not engage each other when the binder is closed. Each prong carrying plate is provided with a flange 1 at each end. The flanges I each have a projection 8, an aperture 9 in said projection, and a shoulder Hi, all for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

The back member 2 has a flat plate member I I secured thereto in any suitable manner. The ends of the plate II are bent upwardly, as indicated at l2 and [3 to help form a shallow com- 50 partment M. The end I2 is recessed, as indicated at l5, for a purpose hereinafter described. A pair of fiat plates iii are secured to the plate H and extend longitudinally thereof to form the side walls of the shallow compartment M. The top Wall of the compartment I4 comprises a flat plate I! secured to the plates l6 and the ends I2, i3 of the plate II.

The plates H and Il are provided with a plurality of registering apertures l8 and I9 adjacent each end of the plates. The apertures i8 5 and I9 are so positioned that when the binder is closed the projections 8 pass through the apertures l9 and into the apertures l8. In this position the shoulders l0 engage a locking bar adjacent one end of the apertures I9.

The locking bar 20 is slidably mounted in the compartment I l. The bar 2!] is slightly bowed at its center, as indicated at 2|, providing sufficient friction to prevent the bar from sliding too freely. The bar is provided with a projection 22 adapted to engage a pair of apertures 23 and 25 to help hold the bar in either looking or inoperative position. A member 25 provided with a pair of tongues 26 is rigidly secured to one end of the bar 29. If desired the member 25 20 could be made integral with the bar. The member 25 is sufficiently wide that the inner edges of the plates l6 act as guide rails to prevent lateral movement of the locking bar. A pair of tongues 21 similar to the tongues 26 is provided 25 on a. member 28 rigidly secured to the bar 20 at its opposite end. The member 28 is bent upwardly, as indicated at 29, to form a finger pull to facilitate manipulation of the locking bar.

The tongues 26 and 21 each project in the 30 same direction and are adapted to pass into and out of the apertures 9 to lock the binder or to permit it to be opened. The movement of the bar in one direction is limited by the engagement of the finger pull 29 with the end of the plate ll. The plate I! is provided with a depending projection 30 adapted to engage the inner edge of the member 25 to limit the movement of the locking bar in the opposite direction.

The operation of the binder is quite simple. When the binder is in open position the prongs are spaced apart and a plurality of sheets 3! may be impaled upon the prongs. When the binder is closed the finger piece 29 is pushed inwardly to lock the prongs in the position shown in Figure 2. An outward pull on the finger piece releases each of the apertures 9 from the tongues 26, 21 and permits movement of the binder to open position. As can be seen from the illustration of Figure 1, the sheets will lie perfectly fiat when the binder is in open position, and they may be manipulated with ease.

While I have described a single embodiment of my invention in detail, it will be understood that the description is illustrative, rather than restrictive, as many details may be modified or changed without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention. Accordingly, I do not desire to be restricted to the exact construction described, except as limited by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a loose leaf binder, a back member, a shallow compartment parallel to said back membar, a pair of prong carrying plates hingedly mounted adjacent opposite edges of said back member, a projection on each of said prong plates adapted to pass into said compartment when the binder is in closed position, and means in said compartment adapted to cooperate with said projections to hold said binder in closed position.

2. In a loose leaf binder, a back member, a pair of superimposed plates secured to said back member, said plates having a plurality of registering apertures, a prong plate provided with a projection at each end, said projections being adapted to enter said apertures when the binder is closed, and means positioned between said superimposed plates adapted to engage said projections to hold said binder in closed position.

3. In a loose leaf binder, a back member, a pair of superimposed plates secured to said back member, said plates having a plurality of registering apertures, a prong plate provided with projections adapted to enter said apertures when the binder is closed, said projections each having an aperture positioned between said superimposed plates, and a locking bar having a plurality of fingers adapted to engage said last mentioned apertures to hold said binder in closed position.

4. In a loose leaf binder, a back member, a shallow compartment parallel to said back member, a pair of prong carrying plates hingedly mounted adjacent opposite edges of said back member, a projection on each of said prong plates adapted to pass into said compartment when the binder is in closed position, and a locking bar in said compartment, said locking bar being slidable longitudinally to cooperate with said projections to hold said binder in closed position.

PAUL O. UNGER. 

